Goblin MarketAn Ideation by Mack Wear

"Goblin Market," while being a work of Victorian literature, has strong Biblical connotations and underlying Christian themes.

Similar to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, sisters Laura and Lizzie are tempted by the offering of delicious fruit. Lizzie warns her sister of the dangers of the fruit of the Goblin Men, just like the Lord warned Adam and Eve of the dangers of the Tree.

"We must not look at Goblin men, we must not buy their fruits: who knows upon what soil they fed their hungry thirsty roots?"

Much like temptation and sin, the fruit is sweet to the taste and it feels good for a while. But, sin will always take us farther than we wanted to go, keep us longer than we wanted to stay, and cost us more than we bargained for. As the poem continues, we see how the fruit and the Goblins destroy Laura.

We are often just like Laura. We become addicted to our temptation and sin and we give away our lives for the sake of momentary pleasure. Much like Laura, we are found in a hopeless state with no chance of saving ourselves from our bondage.

BUT, Christ has won for us! He displayed sacrificial love when He took our place and died for us on the cross. He did not give into temptation, nor did He say a word. He took our punishment and saved us. In the same way, Lizzie demonstrates sacrificial love for her sister by silently submitting to the abuse of the Goblins in Laura's place, thus saving her:

"Lizzie uttered not a word; Would not open lip from lip. Lest they should cram a mouthful in."

This theme of having a greater love for another over the self is the basis of the Gospel. Christian love is sacrificial, and I believe the same can be said of the love of a sister.